While I would love for the White House to find a way to get Paul Whelan released from a Russian jail and returned home we should know that Mr .Whelan was not a decorated marine . In fact he was discharged from the Marines in 2008 for bad conduct . The charges against him were related to larceny and writing bad checks. He was arrested in Russia in 2018 who claimed he was spying. Russia would not agree to a 2 for one swap . Hopefully we can find a way to get him released.